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Review of Contrast 33


Contrast 33
Contrast 33 anno 1983.


Basic specs.

sail specifications
The Contrast 33 is a sailboat designed by the Swedish maritime architect Rolf Magnusson in the late seventies. A few hundred boats have been produced. The Contrast 33 is built by the Swedish yard Contrastbåtar AB.

Looking for a new boat? Find a Contrast 33 or similar boat for sale

Hull

The hull is made of fibreglass while the deck is made of die cast fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.
The hull is a double hull which improves the indoor climate. Especially when the water is colder than the air in the cabin, then the double hull insulates against cold water and reduce the condense water in the cabin.
The deck is a double deck which improves the indoor climate.


Interior

The interior is like many other boats made of mahogany. Mahogany belongs to the hardwood species, known for being water-repellent and resistant to decay. It has an attractive wood grain and holds wood polish and varnish well.
The boat is equipped with 3 cabins, 6 berths, a galley, 65.0 liter fresh water capacity and toilet facility.

Note: the boat has also been sold to be self-made/-interiored, which means that the quality of each boat may vary.


Rig

The Contrast 33 is equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a gennaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.


Keel

Fin keel

The Contrast 33 is equipped with a fin keel. A boat with a fin keel is more manoeuvrable but has less directional stability than a similar boat with a full keel.

The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed.

Contrast 33 can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.65 - 1.75 meter (5.41 - 5.71 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below.


Engine

The Contrast 33 has been equipped with different engine alternatives.

Alternative 1:

The boat may be equipped with an inboard Yanmar 2GM/20SD diesel engine at 18 hp (13 kW). The speed is 7.5 knots.

The transmission is a saildrive.

Alternative 2:

The boat may be equipped with an inboard Volvo Penta MD7B diesel engine

The transmission is a saildrive.

The fuel tank, which is made of stainless steel, has a capacity of 35.0 liters (9 US gallons, 7 imperial gallons).


Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

Stability and Safety

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Contrast 33 is 1.93, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races.


Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.


Immersion rate

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Contrast 33 is about 171 kg/cm, alternatively 959 lbs/inch.
Meaning: if you load 171 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 959 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.


Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

Motion Comfort Ratio

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

The Motion Comfort Ratio for Contrast 33 is 20.0 - 22.5.

Low High 38% 0 50 100
Comparing this ratio with similar sailboats show that it is more comfortable than 38% of all similar sailboat designs. This comfort value is just below average.


L/B (Length Beam Ratio)

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

The l/b ratio for Contrast 33 is 3.20.

Slim Wide 50% 0 50 100
Compared with other similar sailboats it is more spacy than 50% of all other designs. It seems that the designer has chosen an average hull design.


Ballast Ratio

What is a Ballast Ratio?

The ballast ratio for Contrast 33 is 41%.

Low High 50% 0 50 100
This ballast ratio shows a righting moment that is higher than 50% of all similar sailboat designs. This righting moment (ability to resist heeling) is spot on average!


D/L (Displacement Length Ratio)

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

The DL-ratio for Contrast 33 is 191 which categorizes this boat among 'light racers'.

Heavy Light 76% 0 50 100
76% of all similar sailboat designs are categorized as heavier. A light displacement requires less sailarea and has higher accellerations.


SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

The SA/D for Contrast 33 with ISO 8666 reference sail is 16.4, with a 135% genua the SA/D is 19.2.

Low High 46% 0 50 100
The SA/D ratio indicates that it is faster than 46% of all similar sailboat designs in light wind.


Over- / underrigged

Low High 66% 0 50 100
The Contrast 33 has more rig than 66% of all similar sailboats, which indicates that the boat is slightly overrigged.


RSP (Relative Speed Performance)

What is Relative Speed Performance?

The Relative Speed Performance for Contrast 33 is 79

Slow Fast 79% 0 50 100
The relative speed performance is 79 which means that a it is faster than 79% of all similar sailboat designs.


Maintenance

Bottom Paint

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 29m2 (312 ft2).
Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Note: If you use a paint roller you will need more paint than if you use a paintbrush.


Rig

Dimensions of sail for fractional rig.

mainsail specifications genoa specifications spinnaker specifications

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale



If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.



Guiding dimensions of running rig
UsageLengthDiameter
Mainsail halyard 31.6 m(103.5 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Jib/genoa halyard31.6 m(103.5 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Spinnaker halyard31.6 m(103.5 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Jib sheet 9.9 m(32.4 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Genoa sheet9.9 m(32.4 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Mainsheet 24.7 m(81.0 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Spinnaker sheet21.7 m(71.2 feet)12 mm(1/2 inch)
Cunningham3.5 m(11.6 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Kickingstrap7.1 m(23.3 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)
Clew-outhaul7.1 m(23.3 feet)10 mm(3/8 inch)

Boat owner's ideas

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.



Finally

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Contrast 33 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us. Criticism helps us to improve.



References